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Chamber announces move

The Poteau Chamber of Commerce is expected to move into the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center in the next few months, according to chamber Executive Director Karen Wages.The move is part of a deal with the city allowing the chamber to manage the facility.The City Council voted this week to offer the management contract to the chamber. Chamber directors are expected to vote on the contract at noon Tuesday. The center and chamber will remain separate entities, but wil share staff and space, Wages said."There will be some rebranding," she said.As home of the chamber, then center will function as a tourism information center.Wages will remain chamber CEO and assume duties as manager of the events center.Center employees Larry Hancock and Stevie Bruesch will remain. Shannon delaCruz will remain in her position with the chamber and Patti Curry will become a full-time employee, Wages said."This [managing the Reynolds Center] is really nothing new to the chamber. We've been doing it since Jan. 1 [when the former center director moved away]." she said."We will continue to book events, sell tickets and promote the shows," she said."The city, the chamber and the Reynolds Center have been working as one since it opened," she said."We want the center to grow and bring more people to Poteau."She said chamber officials will look at leasing out the current headquarters building.The 37,000 square-feet Reynolds Center opened in November 2011 through a $7.8 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Upcoming events are include Good Times Community Theatre League's presentation of "The Magical Music of Disney" Sept. 12, 14, and 15, MercyMe in concert Sept. 19 and Gene Watson on Nov. 2.